Cop in Jemboy Baltazar’s killing had pending dismissal order —Abalos

One of the Navotas City cops involved in the killing of Jemboy Baltazar due to mistaken identity has a pending dismissal order, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Wednesday.

Abalos, who is also the chairperson of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said vice chairperson Alberto Bernardo is working on the matter as he assured that the dismissal process would continue.

“Siguro it was during the pandemic period. Rest assured dire-diretso po iyan and justice will really be served here,” Abalos told GMA News Online in an interview.

(Maybe it was issued during the pandemic period. Rest assured that the dismissal process will continue and justice will really be served here.)

Bernardo said the dismissal order against Police Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban was dated February 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was received in November 2020.

“Noong dumating ako nagco-computerization kami, merong kaming digitalization kung ano yung mga kasong pending at lahat ng ito kasama ito,” he said.

(When I assumed my post, we were doing a digitalization of the pending cases and all others.)

“Sinabi ng legal service, na nag-aapologize kasi nga e kasagsagan daw ng ano hindi nila nakita yung papeles. Ito kasama rin sa iniimbestigahan natin,” he added.

(Our legal service department told me and apologized that they missed the paper of the dismissal order. We are also investigating this.)

Due to this, Abalos said that he is planning to study and draft a circular on the possible “automatic” implementation of dismissal orders.

On August 2, the teenager was on a small boat on his way to go fishing when he was shot and killed by Navotas City cops in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

A friend who was with him said they were preparing their boat when a policeman ordered them to get off.

They reportedly tried to give themselves up but the cops allegedly kept on shooting.

It was at this point that Baltazar dove into the water.

The police later claimed it had been a case of mistaken identity. Some of the six policemen, who were initially reported to be involved in the incident, said in their affidavits that they fired shots only at the water and that they did not intend to hit the teenager.

The involved policemen have undergone inquest proceedings over complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

They are also facing administrative charges for grave misconduct and serious irregularity in the performance of duty and have been relieved from their post.

Navotas City Police chief Police Colonel Allan Umipig has been relieved from his post in connection to the case.

Umipig is alleged to have ordered the removal of the names of 11 police officers in the report on the killing of Baltazar.

On Tuesday, the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) recommended complaints against Umipig over alleged dishonesty and command responsibility. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News